Bulgaria Ruling GERB down 13% in Approval Ratings

A recent poll reveals 46% of Bulgarians approve of the cabinet of Bulgaria's new PM, Boyko Borisov. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarians show strong support for the police operations, and a moderate optimism regarding the absorption of the EU funds, according to the latest “Alfa Research” poll, conducted between February 7 and 15.

On the downside, there is increased social tension regarding the health and retirement reform and reduced trust in the Parliament, the political parties and Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

The special anti-organized crime operations of the Interior Ministry had the most positive effect on the image of the cabinet with 47% approving those actions. The nomination of Kristalina Georgieva for Bulgarian EU Commissioner has 71% approval while the resignation of Rumina Jeleva from the post of Foreign Minister, after her failed Commissioner candidature, wins 63% approval.

The most negative effects came from the cabinet’s declared intentions to close hospitals that cannot fulfill the Health Ministry’s criteria with 68% disagreeing with the reform, while 42% are unhappy about the failure of the State to repay its obligations to the private businesses.

Regarding the GMO Act, 40% approve the 5-year moratorium on them while 37% are against it.

The total confidence vote in the cabinet is 3,79 out of 6 possible points down from 4,13 after the first 100 days.

The approval for the PM and the cabinet remains relatively high, according to the “Alfa Research” experts, who say the trend is due to the lack of alternative.

The approval for Borisov is 50% in February, down nearly 10% compared to August 2009. In the mean time, the approval for former PM and leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) is down 9% for the same period, to 14%.

The approval for the leader of the conservative Order, Law and Justice party (RZS), Yane Yanev is down 13% to 9%. The other party leaders have about 7% approval and for most of them the approval is down. The approval for the leader of the nationalist, far-right Ataka party, Volen Siderov is down 11%. Only Ahmed Dogan, leader of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, enjoys higher approval ratings – up by 1,1%.

The approval of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party and the parties supporting the majority is also down.

GERB now has less than 46% approval or 13% less than August. RZS’s approval is down 13% and Ataka’s is down 10%.

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